Asadil said that the armed men even carried rocket propelled grenades which they used to attack the provincial jail.

The 8 members of the Maute group were just arrested Monday, August 22, after they were detained for carrying weapons and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Lumbayanague, Lanao del Sur.

Those detained including Maute, the leader of the Maute Group who has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS); Abdul Jabbar Tominaman Macabading; Jamil Batoa Amerul; Muhammad Sianodin Mulok; and Omar Khalil. The men were reportedly involved in various terrorist activities in Lanao del Sur.

Lanao del Sur Provincial Police Director Senior Supt. Agustin Tello also added that the armed men also took Jail Officer 3 Modasir Manwar as they left the area. Manwar was later freed in Barangay Calocan, Marawi City, 3 hours after the attack.

The attackers also took away one M16 and one M14 assault rifle, and burned a provincial jail vehicle which they used as one of their getaway vehicles.

The group used a total of 4 getaway vehicles, including the jail-owned vehicle, which they all abandoned at the lake shore of Barangay Calocan in Marawi City. The suspects and the escapees then rode motorboats to escape to an unknown location.

"These escapees pose serious threat to public safety and must be prevented from sowing further terror," PNP Regional Director PCSupt Noel Constantino was quoted in the police statement as saying.

From InterAksyon (Aug 28): I.S. THREAT IN PHL | Counterprop, As-Pac cooperation needed: US officialUS Department of State Acting Coordinator for Counterterrorism Justin Siberell cannot confirm whether or not the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group is already in the Philippines, but he proposes measures to respond to this “global challenge”.

In a conference call from Washington D.C. to reporters in Asia-Pacific on Friday morning, Siberell said, “IS has a history of associating itself or attaching itself to pre-existing terror organizations.”

IS did this, he said, with the Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis group in Sinai, Egypt; and the Boko Haram group in Nigeria. Closer to home, there was the Katibah Nusantara, a group of fighters in Syria which has been luring individuals across Southeast Asia.

Siberell said that IS would identify existing terrorist organizations, then associates with them or getts them to pledge allegiance to IS. The rise of new IS affiliates is a concern, he acknowledged.

Bali consensus

In the Philippines, the Abu Sayyaf had been active even before the 9/11 attacks in the United States in 2001. It is “vital” to address this threat, and Siberell assured the reporters that governments were cooperating across the region in this regard.

During his visit to Bali, Indonesia for a ministerial meeting on countering the cross-border movement of terrorism, there were discussions that the concerned governments would work on the following:

· making adjustments to counter-terrorism legislation, specifically those that would criminalize travelling to join a conflict and contributing to a terrorist group fighting in a conflict, and that would criminalize recruitment into or preparations for terrorist groups;

· improving information-sharing, particularly about the identities of known or suspected terrorists;

· implementing stronger border security measures; and

· undertaking counter-recruitment and counter-radicalization efforts.

The conflict in Syria and Iraq has attracted fighters from around the world, including Southeast Asia. In all, Siberell reported, over 40,000 individuals from 120 countries have traveled already to these conflict zones.

He praised Indonesia for its “strong-rule-of-law framework” in counter-terrorism, which began with good legislation, coupled with the use of the court system to prosecute terrorism suspects and gain convictions.

But the challenge to Indonesia – as well as to many other nations – was that prisons themselves became locations for further radicalization.

Research on radicalization's roots, counterprop

According to Siberell, the US military found that to address the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), in particular, they needed to strengthen their efforts “in the counter-messaging, counter-narrative area.”“ISIL was, at one point, almost unopposed in the social media sphere in being able to propagandize, to draw attention to its attacks,” Siberell said, pointing to the “horrific” images of beheadings and killings proliferating on social media sites.

In response, the US government created the Global Engagement Center, whose tasks included partnering with government and non-government to develop counter-narratives and boost communication against ISIL.

He praised the Malaysian government for its similar initiative, a “counter-messaging center”.

Siberell said research must be done on the root causes of radicalization, and resources must be put into this.

It was important to find out “what might be driving recruitment in the terrorist organizations, what might be the factors that are contributing to the receptivity of individuals to messages and recruitment messages from terrorist organizations.”

Another component was improved information-sharing among the countries, especially on the identity of known and suspected terrorists “so that border security personnel have available to them all of the information that would help them prevent known and suspected terrorists from crossing borders.”

Shared database
US President Barack Obama launched a project this year to help governments connect to the Interpol and its database of 8,000 foreign terrorist fighters. Many countries were now sharing information with that database, and the US now had bilateral information-sharing agreements with more than 55 countries.

For the Philippines, in particular, the US was now helping beef up the former's response to kidnap-for-ransom cases, given that kidnap-for-ransom was a critical source of income for the Abu Sayyaf, as in other terrorist organizations.

Siberell said that the US was looking forward to an exchange of expertise, especially the good practices that governments could adopt.

Five Malaysian sailors captured by the Abu Sayyaf are safe amid the Philippines’ ongoing offensive to flush out members of the regional terror group, an anti-kidnap activist said.

Prof Octavio Dinampo sought to allay fears over the safety of the five sailors who have been held hostage since July 18 when they were snatched from their tugboat off Sabah’s restive east coast of Lahad Datu, The Sunday Star reported today.

“They are guarded by men of Abu Sayyaf commander Apo Mike, whose name is Majan Sawadjan. They are constantly being moved,”the Filipino expert was quoted saying. However, the report did not mention how Dinampo came by the information.

The Philippines’ military was reported to have found a severed head believed to belong to a Filipino teen taken hostage since July 16 by the Abu Sayyaf in its restive Sulu province, said to be the militant group’s stronghold.

Under the leadership of its president Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippines have stepped up its action to wipe out the Abu Sayyaf, said to have links with global terror network, Islamic State.

In its latest strike yesterday, the Philippines military was reported to have killed an Abu Sayyaf sub-leader named Mohammad Said, also known as “Ama Maas” who has five standing warrants for murder, the Manila Bulletin reported.

Previously, four Sarawakian sailors were taken hostage from their vessel in the waters off Sabah’s Pulau Ligitan on April 1. They were released three months later after the Abu Sayyaf claimed to receive payment from the families though Malaysian police have denied ransom was paid.

Sarawakian Bernard Then was the first Malaysian reportedly beheaded by the violent Abu Sayyaf last November, following his abduction from a Sandakan restaurant on May 15 that same year.

'They cannot just do that. And if they will do that, it is our right to defend our territory against this encroachment,' Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr says

CHINA 'ISLAND.' Mischief Reef is the site of one of China's artificial islands in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). Construction of hangars at Mischief Reef is at an earlier stage, the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative says of this satellite image dated July 22, 2016. Photo courtesy of CSIS/AMTI and DigitalGlobe

Philippine Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr on Wednesday, August 24, said China is possibly using "black sand" from the Philippines to build its artificial islands in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

"There is evidence showing that indeed, black sand had been utilized from our territories, mined from there, and then used to undertake these reclamation activities, particularly in the Spratly Islands, where these reclamation activities have almost been completed," Yasay said in a Senate briefing on Wednesday.

Yasay said this information is based on findings of the intelligence community, the government's security cluster, and the West Philippine Sea Task Force.

The island-building activities began before Manila won a historic case against China over the West Philippine Sea.

Yasay, however, said that "there is no definitive investigation or finding about whether or not black sand" was used to build China's artificial islands.

"We'll be happy to see through the results of the Senate investigation on this particular matter," Yasay said.

Yasay: 'They cannot just do that'

In Wednesday's Senate briefing, Yasay added there had been attempts to use Philippine black sand for reclamation activities in the contested Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal).

Yasay said: "The actual reclamation in Scarborough never took place. There were attempts to send vessels with black sand, with all the equipment, to start reclaiming Scarborough Shoal, but this was stopped by the Americans."

Senator Richard Gordon then asked Yasay about "the attitude" of the Philippines when the Chinese "take away our land, literally, not only our claims."

Yasay told Gordon: "In that particular instance, Mr Chairman, your honor, it is my position, it's the position of the Department of Foreign Affairs, that that particular activity is in violation of our territorial integrity or sovereignty rights."

"They cannot just do that. And if they will do that, it is our right to defend our territory against this encroachment," the Philippines' top diplomat said.

On China's reclamation activities in general, Yasay said on Wednesday: "For the international community, the red line is that this should be stopped. Right now, there should be no further reclamation activities."

WHEN negotiators sat down together in Oslo this week in an effort to end the Philippines’ 47-year-old communist insurgency, they expressed the hope that a peace deal could be wrapped up within a year. That is optimistic: the two sides have been talking on-and-off for 30 years, without success. Their jerky progress towards the negotiating table in recent weeks is an ominous portent.

The Philippines’ new president, Rodrigo Duterte, had promised to resume talks during his election campaign, and declared a unilateral ceasefire within a month of his inauguration in late June. But the communists failed to reciprocate immediately.

Instead, communist guerrillas ambushed some government militiamen in the southern Philippines, killing one and wounding four. Mr Duterte promptly called off the truce, just before the communists declared their own ceasefire, which was subsequently rescinded. It was only after the government released some insurgents, and the communists reciprocated, that the two sides reinstated the ceasefires, allowing the talks to go ahead.

The man the government regards as the leader of the communists is Jose Maria Sison. Mr Sison founded the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in 1968, and later an armed wing called the New People’s Army (NPA), with the aim of overthrowing Ferdinand Marcos, the president of the day. The insurgency blazed when Mr Marcos imposed martial law on his way to becoming a kleptocratic dictator. The NPA boasted of its thousands of armed guerrillas. The Philippines looked as if it might become the next South-East Asian domino to fall to communism—until Mr Sison was captured and imprisoned.

When Mr Marcos was overthrown in 1986, the new government freed Mr Sison. But he spurned the government’s peace overtures and sought refuge in the Netherlands, where he still lives. He is now 77 years old, and the most prominent communist at the talks.

Mr Sison’s revolution has become a hopeless cause, thanks both to the restoration of democracy and infighting within the communists’ ranks.But the NPA remains a deadly nuisance, especially in rural areas on the southern island of Mindanao. It extorts money from businesses, typically setting fire to equipment belonging to construction companies or blowing up base stations belonging to mobile-phone networks that refuse to pay its revolutionary “taxes”. But its guerrillas failed to mount a single big operation last year, and their number had dwindled to fewer than 4,000 by the end of the year, according to the army. They tend to avoid combat, so outbreaks of fighting are rare and brief.

Previous efforts at making peace have been thwarted by the insurgents’ insistence on the release of detainees they regard as political prisoners but the government considers common criminals. Among the 20 prisoners the government freed to allow the latest talks to proceed were a married couple, 65-year-old Benito Tiamzon, the suspected chairman of the CPP, and 63-year-old Wilma Tiamzon, the suspected secretary-general. Both were released on bail despite facing multiple charges of murder, attempted murder and kidnapping. They immediately went to Oslo to join the communist negotiating team.

The communists will press for the release and pardon of more such figures. But the government will be sceptical that the ageing negotiators, long separated from their fighters by exile or prison bars, still have the authority to order a permanent end to nearly half a century of conflict.

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has instructed the government security forces not to pursue fugitive Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) leader Nur Misuari, who is facing rebellion charges, if ever he decides to come out of hiding.

"If Nur, if he comes out of his hiding place in Jolo, my advice to you guys – the army, the police and everybody – let him be. Let him be. Nur – I hope he's not sick. I hope he's well. But since he's already old, he will not resist," Duterte said at the 10th Eastern Mindanao Command in Panacan, Davao City.

Misuari, who is facing rebellion charges for his involvement in the infamous 2013 Zamboanga siege, is believed to be hiding somewhere in Sulu.

Duterte said that it would be better if Misuari fell to the authorities' custody, should anything bad happen to him.

"And the last thing that I would want is really – God forbids and I hope not – that if something happens to him, he’s in our custody," the President said.

"So there's nobody of significance in that area who has the preeminence like Nur Misuari. And if something happens to him within our custody, we can kiss goodbye about peace in that area," he added.

Misuari has a pending arrest warrant issued in 2013 but the President had said that he may give the former safe conducts pass so he can join the peace dialogue with government.

From the Sun Star-Cagayan de Oro (Aug 27): MILF uneasy over members indicted for Mamasapano clash

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) felt uneasy with the filing of criminal charges against several of its members for the death of police commandos January 25 last year in an operation that killed Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias "Marwan" in his lair in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

“Old wounds should not be reopened anymore. They should be allowed to rest because even a slight touch will only rip them open,” the MILF, which has forged a peace pact with government, said in a statement.

“We are not saying that government cannot proceed in filing these cases... But our only wish is that for a government to be a just government, they should apply justice fairly to all,” the group added.

The tragedy claimed the lives of 44 elite cops, 17 Moro guerrillas, and five civilians, and precipitated a national controversy that stalled the implementation of the peace pact between government and the MILF.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) ordered last week the filing of charges of direct assault with murder against individuals allegedly involved in the encounter with police commandos.

The DOJ resolution cited accounts of witnesses that the 55th Special Action Company (SAC) was maintaining a defensive perimeter but the respondents allegedly continued to fire shots at them. It further said that the Moro armed men knew that they were engaging police officers in a gun battle.

While the DOJ sees the incident through the lenses of criminal justice, the MILF wants that it be viewed as a violation of the ceasefire agreement it forged with government to avoid unnecessary hostilities until such time that a peace pact secures the end of its rebellion.

The group explained that its members were forced into a gunfight as a matter of survival as the "attackers" came under the cover of darkness “that they did not know who were attacking them” and whom they are engaged in a fire fight with.

“Weren’t the SAF commandoes not the attackers, ceasefire offenders, and which branded a partner in peace, the MILF, as enemy?” the MILF said.

It noted that before the tragic incident, “the ceasefire agreement between government and MILF forces was holding firmly.”

Zero violation
“In fact, violation was almost zero since President Benigno Aquino III assumed office in 2010,” the group noted.

The MILF lamented that “in their planning and in the execution, the SAF (Special Action Forces) deliberately and ignored the ceasefire agreement.”

Then SAF director Getulio Napeñas admitted bypassing the ceasefire mechanism because he did not trust the MILF to cooperate and to also avoid leakage of the plan which could lead to Marwan escaping from the authorities’ dragnet yet again as happened in previous operations.

The MILF pointed out that had the SAF used the available ceasefire mechanisms in the operation, the risks would have been controlled and the tragedy could have been avoided.

“The SAF... were operating in an area heavily occupied by MILF combatants and supporters. There were also other armed groups, including the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, in the vicinity. Therefore the extent of the risks of the operation was enormous and known very well,” the rebel group said.

“But it seemed the smell of success --and the lure of dollars--rode roughshod over all other considerations,” the MILF stressed.

$5-M bountyMarwan carried a $5 million bounty from the United States Rewards for Justice Program, which gives incentives for neutralizing terrorists throughout the world.President Rodrigo Duterte himself pointed to the “greed” for the bounty as the underlying cause for the bungled police operation.

“The scapegoat had thus to be found. The MILF was the ready whipping boy,” the MILF said.

“But was it right for the SAF to blame the MILF for the blunder? The MILF was the one attacked, it merely defended itself,” it added.

The MILF said it leaves the handling of the matter to Mr. Duterte’s “wisdom” and “full grasp of what is just and what is fair play.”

“We believe that when President Rodrigo Duterte repeatedly acknowledged that historic injustice was committed against the Moros (by the state), he was not only referring to the loss of their sovereignty and landholdings, and the death of thousands of Moros in the series of bloody massacres perpetrated against them by state forces, but also of the unfair application of justice,” the MILF added.

Heavily armed members of the Maute terror group stormed the Lanao del Sur provincial jail compound in Marawi City late Saturday afternoon and freed eight of their companions who were earlier arrested by the Army and police last Monday while 20 other prisoners escaped, police said.

In his report to higher headquarters, Chief Superintendent Agripino Javier, regional police director of the PNP Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said an estimated 50 men armed with high-powered firearms stormed the jail at around 5:45pm Saturday leading to the escape of their eight companions including three women and the 20 other prisoners.

Javier said the group also seized an M14 rifle and an M16 rifle; and a Mitsubishi vehicle from the jail guards.

A jail guard, JO3 Modasir Manwang was taken by the group but was released later in Barangay Caloocan, Marawi city.

Armed men suspected to be members of the local terrorist group headed by the Maute clan raided the Lanao del Sur provincial jail operated by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Barangay Mapandi in Marawi City on Saturday and sprung a total of 28 inmates.

Among those who escaped with the armed men were eight suspected Maute group members, who were arrested in Lumbayanague town, also in Lanao del Sur on Aug. 22.

CAMP NAVARRO, Calarian, Zamboanga City (DWDD) – Six (6) members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) were neutralized amid the intensified conduct of focused military operations in Patikul, Sulu.

Operating troops of the Joint Task Force Sulu engaged in a 45-minute armed confrontation with more or less 100 Abu Sayyaf members in Sitio Makaita, Barangay Bunkaong, Patikul, Sulu this morning, yielding to the deaths of six (6) Abu Sayyaf members based on the body counts recovered by troops and undetermined number of wounded ASG members.

Among those killed was Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Mohammad Said, a.k.a Ama Maas, who has five (5) standing warrants of arrest for murder. Subject is involved in the abduction of the Samal kidnap victims where two (2) Canadians were beheaded. Along with that group, Maritess Flor was released and Norwegian Kjartan Sikkengstad is still with the ASG.

Meanwhile, soldiers who were wounded in action are currently undergoing medical treatment in Sulu and will later be transported to Zamboanga City for further medication. Other slightly wounded opted to stay and continue the pursuit operations.

NAVAL STATION FELIX APOLINARIO, Panacan, Davao City (DWDD) – “To defend this republic, sabay-sabay tayong lahat,” said President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to the troops of the Eastern Mindanao Command (EASTMINCOM) during its 10th anniversary at the Naval Station Felix Apolinario in Panacan, Davao City.

In his speech, the President articulated the country’s need for a powerful standing army and expressed his trust to the Philippine military.

“I can always rely on the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to keep the integrity of the Republic,” said the Commander-in-Chief.

He also reiterated his desire to destroy the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) but said that other rebel groups such as the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) will be negotiated with to achieve a lasting peace. He said that MNLF leader Nur Misuari should be left alone by the military and the Philippine National Police (PNP) if he comes out from hiding so that he could participate in the peace talks.

President Duterte continued by reinforcing his commitment on the war against illegal drugs, saying that deaths cannot be avoided in war, and that government forces focus on destroying the apparatus of the illegal drug trade, not on killing its citizens.

He also brought up the comment of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno about criminals not surrendering to the police without a warrant. He said that arrests can be made if the crime is committed in the presence of law enforcers and that Justice Sereno’s comment is a very dangerous statement that will promote anarchy.

The President was welcomed to the event by National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Ricardo Visaya and EASTMINCOM Commander Lt. Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero before he was accorded with full military honors.

President Duterte also led the awarding of 17 Philippine military personnel and civilians to honor their contributions for the welfare of the Filipino people. PAO EASTMINCOM / RTVM / MCAG

From the Website of NDF Consultant (and CPP leader) Jose Maria Sison (Aug 28): Remarks at the Signing of the Joint Statement of the GRP and NDFP Negotiating Panels in Oslo, Norway

By Prof. Jose Maria Sison Founding Chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines and NDFP Chief Political Consultant August 26, 2016

I feel both honored and delighted to have participated in the successful resumption of the formal talks in the peace negotiations between the GRP and NDFP. The Joint Statement that we are signing and issuing today manifests the historic significance of what has been accomplished.
The accumulated agreements have been reaffirmed. The participants in the peace negotiations are further assured of safety and immuniy guarantees. The release of the NDFP consultants will lead to the amnesty and release of all those wrongly imprisoned in violation of their democratic rights and such agreements as the JASIG and CARHRIHL.

The plan of accelerated negotiations carries definite work schedules to produce comprehensive agreements on social and economic reforms, political and constitutional reforms and the end of hostilities and disposition of forces.

The current unilateral goodwill ceasefire of the NDFP will give way to a unilateral indefinite interim ceasefire in response to that of the GRP. The two unilateral ceasefire declarations are immediately effective and shall be reconciled in a single bilateral document.

I am sure that the Filipino people appreciate the work of the two negotiating panels and that they are elated by the results of the formal talks. These advance their struggle for national and social liberation and for a just and lasting peace.

The negotiating panels and their respective consultants and staff deserve all congratulations for their success and all encouragement for further advances on the long and difficult road of peace negotiations.

Of course the success of both panels can be traced all the way to the political will and determination of their principals, President Duterte and the NDFP leadership, to pursue the peace negotiations and bring about substantial social, economic and political reforms for the benefit of the Filipino people.

We hope that the peace negotiations will continue to be carried out seriously and diligently in response to the worsening crisis of the semicolonial and semifeudal ruling system and the clamor of the people for revolutionary change.

We congratulate and thank the Royal Norwegian Government and in particular the Hon. Foreign Minister Borge Bende and the Hon. Special Envoy Ambassador Elisabeth Slattum for the warm, efficient and charming facilitation for the formal talks and the ensuing success.

The chief negotiator of the NDFP Luis Jalandoni shall express to all concerned the collective view and sense of gratitude of the NDFP panel and entire delegation. May the press and all those present convey the good news to the Philippine and international public. Thank you.

From the Communist Party of the Philippines Website (Aug 28): Unilateral Declaration of Interim Ceasefire

Central Committee, Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and National Operational Command, New People’s Army (NPA)

August 28, 2016

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the National Operational Command of the New People’s Army (NPA) hereby declare to all commands and units of the NPA and people’s militias an interim ceasefire in line with the recommendation of the Negotiating Panel of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and in pursuit of the August 26 Joint Statement of the NDFP and Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) on the resumption of formal peace negotiations.

This unilateral declaration of interim ceasefire is being issued by the CPP and NPA to further promote peace negotiations between the NDFP and the GRP and boost efforts to accelerate it. It reciprocates the indefinite ceasefire issued by the GRP President last August 21.

This unilateral declaration of interim ceasefire shall take effect today and will remain valid during the course of peace negotiations until superceded by a ceasefire agreement to be issued jointly by the NDFP with the GRP within the next 60 days or until a notice of termination of this ceasefire declaration takes effect 10 days after receipt of said notice by the GRP Negotiating Panel from the NDFP Negotiating Panel.

The CPP and NPA are encouraged by the positive outcome of the resumption of formal talks held in Oslo, Norway on August 22-26. The revolutionary forces in the Philippines look forward to vibrant talks in the course of the next few months to discuss (a) social and economic reforms, (b) political and constitutional reforms, and (c) end of hostilities and disposition of forces.

The issuance of this interim ceasefire declaration is further encouraged by the prospective release of all political prisoners and remaining detained consultants of the NDFP through the issuance of an Amnesty Proclamation by the GRP President. These prisoners were arrested under the Arroyo and Aquino regimes in violation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law and the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees.

During the interim ceasefire period, all NPA units and people’s militia shall cease and desist from carrying out offensive military campaigns and operations against the uniformed armed personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) of the GRP.

Personnel of the AFP and PNP who have no serious liabilities other than their membership in their armed units shall not be subjected to arrest or punitive actions. They may be allowed individually to enter the territory of the people’s democratic government to make personal visits to relatives and friends.

While all units of the NPA and the people’s militias shall be on defensive mode at both the strategic and tactical levels, they shall nonetheless maintain a high degree of militancy and vigilance against any hostile actions, provocations or movements of the enemy armed forces including encroachment on the territory of the people’s democratic government, surveillance and other offensive operations that are labelled as “peace and development”, “civil-military”, “peace and order”, “anti drugs campaign,” “medical missions” or “law enforcement.”

Active-defense actions shall be undertaken only in the face of clear and imminent danger and actual armed attack by the enemy forces and only after exhausting counter-maneuvers to avoid armed encounters.

All leading organs and branches of the CPP, commands and units of the NPA and people’s militias and revolutionary mass organizations shall monitor any hostile actions, provocations or movements carried out by the enemy armed forces that undermine the spirit of the ceasefire declarations. These should be promptly reported to the concerned commands of the NPA and leadership of the CPP.

While ceasing offensive military operations, the NPA will continue to enforce policies and laws of the people’s democratic government, perform appropriate functions of governance, and mobilize the people and resources in territories under its authority, including:

maintaining peace and order including suppression of criminal groups such as drug traffickers and operators of the drug trade and large-scale gambling, private armies and private armed groups of warlords, local tyrants and vigilante groups, as well as spies.

enforcing local economic policies pertaining to land rent, usurious loans, wages and others.

enforcing policies for the protection of the environment and defense of the interests of national minorities, peasants and workers affected by large-scale mining, logging and plantation operations.

Furthermore, as a cultural, political and service organization, the NPA will continue to dispatch its forces to carry out educational campaigns especially on progress of peace negotiations, cultural activities, medical missions and production support campaigns.

We conclude today our first round of talks with much vigor to accomplish the bigger tasks ahead in peace building. Ours was a leap of faith when we braved to re-engage each other last Monday after more than half a decade of impasse and indifference. But no matter how difficult it was, we choose to believe and today, we start receiving the dividends of that faith. Our agreements reached during this round of talks should tell us how far our faith can bring us and what we can achieve together.

We readily commend the magnanimity of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in ending the impasse and in propelling our frank and cordial discussions in the past five days.

However, I also have to credit the fortitude of both panels in forging those agreements meant to move the peace talks forward. We also recognize the enabling interventions in the discussion of Secretary Jesus G. Dureza and Professor Joma Sison which allowed the panels to understand each other’s fears and dilemmas, especially on contentious issues such as ceasefire, JASIG and prisoner release.

This round of talks is made doubly significant with the presence of 16 NDF consultants who were released from detention in order for them to travel and join us in the talks, such as Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, Tirso Alcantara and Alan Jazmines. Their inputs will enrich, indeed, our discussions not to mention the inspiration they can provide to other peace workers. We are also glad that the voices of Ka Satur, Vic Ladlad, Rafael Baylosis, Randall Echanis and other NDF consultants will now be part of our conversations in finding a peace settlement to the armed conflict.

Noticeable during our discussions is the NDF’s commitment to the peace process by agreeing to work with us for the possible completion of the negotiations within the period of nine (9) to twelve (12) months from this round of talks. In particular, we look forward to the fruitful discussions on socio economic reforms which the panels will endeavor to finish in the next six months.

We also commend the NDF’s commitment to extend its existing seven-day unilateral ceasefire for an indefinite period along with that of the government, to accompany the next rounds of talks. It is most welcome that during this period, the NDF will endeavor to work with the government to put in place a joint or bilateral ceasefire which will ultimately help us achieve an agreement for finally ending the hostilities.

I trust that the building blocks we laid down during this round of talks will provide us more confidence in the next round which we scheduled on 8 to 12 October, here in Oslo. I shall look forward to seeing you all for a more productive discussion.

I cannot end this round of talks without thanking and commending our host, the Royal Norwegian Government, especially RNG Foreign Minister Børge Brende for his unwavering support to our peace process, and the RNG’s Special Envoy to the Philippine Peace Process, Ambassador Elisabeth Slattum, for shepherding our discussions in her capacity as our third party facilitator. Hopefully, the Philippine peace process will add up to RNG’s recent achievement in peace settlement in Colombia. Congratulations, honorable minister and madam ambassador.

Lastly, I thank my panel members for the work well done along with the panel advisers, Mayors Pamintuan and Bautista and Congressman Yap as observer, our working teams, secretariat and technical committee.

In closing therefore, let me leave you with a Biblical quote, “Never get tired of doing good cause in due time we will reap a harvest, if we faint not”. Let us be steadfast in our peace work until we have reached a logical conclusion of the armed conflict.
See you all in October. Thank you. Peace be with us always.

From the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) (Aug 27): AFP Statement on signing of indefinite ceasefire (from Marine Colonel Edgard Arevalo, Chief, Public Affairs Office of the AFP)

The AFP have noted with elation and optimism this breakthrough in the peace negotiations.

"It is a laudable move on the part of the CPP-NPA-NDF to respond positively to President Rodrigo Duterte's declaration of reimposition of the Ceasefire "for as long as necessary" to attain lasting peace in the land.

"The AFP under the leadership of General Ricardo Visaya will continue to uphold the letter and spirit of the ceasefire declaration of the Commander-in-Chief. The nation can rely on every soldier, sailor, marines, and airmen to help provide an environment conducive to peace so that the negotiators from both panels can work under the climate of trust and the prospect of reconciliation." (End of Statement)

From the Philippine Star (Aug 28): Next government-NDF talks to be held in October

In an eight-page joint statement concluding the first round of formal peace talks held from Aug. 22-26 in Oslo, Norway, the two panels expressed their commitment to resume the negotiations in order to resolve the armed conflict by addressing its root causes. Philstar.com/File photo

The peace panels of the Philippine government and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) will resume their second round of formal talks in Norway this October.

In an eight-page joint statement concluding the first round of formal peace talks held from Aug. 22-26 in Oslo, Norway, the two panels expressed their commitment to resume the negotiations in order to resolve the armed conflict by addressing its root causes.

They agreed to meet again in Oslo on Oct. 8-12 this year.

The most significant result of the first round of formal talks was their agreement to immediately recommend to President Duterte the granting of amnesty to the rebels.

The panels also agreed to implement an “indefinite unilateral ceasefire,” which became effective yesterday.

In a joint statement, the panels said the joint ceasefire agreement came about in response to President Duterte’s declaration of a unilateral ceasefire that took effect from Aug. 21.

“The negotiating panels agreed to work through their respective ceasefire committees to reconcile and develop their separate… orders into a single unified bilateral document within 60 days date of this Joint Statement. Said document shall be subject to the approval of their respective principals,” the joint statement read.

The panels also discussed the prospective adoption of the annexes to the bilateral ceasefire agreement and the prospective role of a third party in ceasefire monitoring and mediation in relation to the implementation of the ceasefire, and the handling of complaints and alleged violations of the ceasefire agreement.

The NDF panel expressed its appreciation and acknowledged the Philippine government and the efforts of President Duterte in ordering the release of its consultants under the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) signed on Feb. 24, 1995.

Lawmakers hailed the joint panels in declaring the indefinite ceasefire.

However, some concerns were raised about some of the details of the agreement.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson said the ceasefire declared by the CPP-NPA-NDF “is the most welcome development so far achieved by the Duterte administration that could hopefully put an end to our decades-old insurgency problem.”

“The list of demands apart from the release and the grant of general amnesty to all political prisoners and how the government will respond bear watching though because that will be the focal point and in fact, the success or collapse of the peace talks will depend on (it),” Lacson said.

Sen. Grace Poe said the declaration of an indefinite ceasefire on the side of the CPP-NPA-NDF “is a positive development to at least ensure that there is no further loss of lives among our countrymen as both panels negotiate for that much elusive peace settlement.”

“I join our people in looking forward to finally settle this decades long insurgency this time around,” she said.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan, a member of the Liberal Party, said the Duterte administration should be commended for its efforts to attain peace, not only with communist insurgents, but also with Muslim secessionists.

Pangilinan said he is supportive of the proposed grant of general amnesty, which would have to go through Congress for approval if this is endorsed by the executive branch.

“Ending the bloodshed of Filipinos by fellow Filipinos over age-old problems of poverty, inequality, and injustice is a big step forward toward ending these root causes of the armed conflict, these triple threat obstacles to progress and peace,” he said.

For his part, Sen. Vicente Sotto III said he was not comfortable with the mention of a coalition government by the CPP-NPA-NDF, which was previously rejected by President Duterte.

Ifugao Rep. Teodoro Baguilat said the government should institute mechanisms to monitor the ceasefire at the local level.

Baguilat said that despite the ceasefire agreement, there had been skirmishes between government troops and NPA rebels in several provinces in Northern Luzon.

Baguilat stressed the need to set up ceasefire monitors to ensure compliance of the truce at the local level.

Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto said the government forces could focus on putting an end to the Abu Sayyaf now that an indefinite ceasefire has been forged with the communist insurgents.

“If the truce with the New People’s Army will relieve the military of fighting a war in one front, then perhaps they can concentrate on finishing off the Abu Sayyaf,” Recto said.

“I think this is one dividend we would like to see – for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to have its undivided attention on Abu Sayyaf,” he added.

The military, for its part, lauded the CPP-NPA-NDF’s move to reciprocate the indefinite ceasefire declared by President Duterte.

“It is a laudable move on the part of the CPP-NPA-NDF to respond positively to President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of reimposition of the ceasefire ‘for as a long as necessary’ to attain lasting peace in the land,” AFP Public Affairs Office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said.

Arevalo pointed out that the AFP will continue to uphold the letter and spirit of the government’s unilateral ceasefire declaration.

“The nation can rely on every soldier, sailor, marines and airmen to help provide an environment conducive to peace so that negotiators from both panels can work under the climate of trust and prospect of reconciliation,” Arevalo said.

Window for peace

With the ceasefire on both sides, President Duterte said the country is in the best position for peace.

“We are in the best position now. There is a window now and we have to take stock of everything,” he said.

Duterte said the country has been given the window for peace because of the ceasefire agreement with the communists.

“There is the window for peace. We are not fighting the communists. And by the grace of Allah, MI (Moro Islamic Liberation Front), MN (Moro National Liberation Front) have expressed their desire to talk. MI, I salute you guys – they even surrendered the drug addicts under their custody,” Duterte addressed the troops during the 10th anniversary celebration of the Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao Command in Davao City on Friday.

Duterte said he wants the window to remain open.

Duterte told the troops to abide by the unilateral ceasefire he initially declared with the communist rebels.

“We just talked about peaceful things, they are doing well. We have declared the ceasefire – just observe it please so they can talk there without a ruckus and everything,” he said.

Duterte said the communist rebels are also sincere in their desire for peace.

“I sensed that they are also tired of fighting. Because you know why? They have allowed the Left to join my government,” he said.

The ceasefire order takes effect Sunday, August 28, effectively extending the 7-day limited ceasefire it issued before the talks

The CPP issues an indefinite ceasefire order after the Oslo peace talks. File photo by Edwin Espejo/Rappler

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) has issued a unilateral indefinite ceasefire order to all the units of its armed wing New People's Army (NPA), fulfilling its commitment in the recently concluded first round of peace talks with the Philippine government.

"This unilateral declaration of interim ceasefire is being issued by the CPP and NPA to further promote peace negotiations between the [National Democratic Front] and the [government of the Republic of the Philippines] and boost efforts to accelerate it," the CPP-NPA said.

The ceasefire order takes effect Sunday, August 28, effectively extending the 7-day limited ceasefire it issued before the talks.

It matches the indefinite ceasefire order issued to the military.

"During the interim ceasefire period, all NPA units and people's militia shall cease and desist from carrying out offensive military campaigns and operations against the uniformed armed personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP)," the communist group said.

The weeklong talks produced a historic joint statement on the resumption of talks and declaration of ceasefires.

"The issuance of this interim ceasefire declaration is further encouraged by the prospective release of all political prisoners and remaining detained consultants of the NDFP through the issuance of and Amnesty Proclamation by the GRP President [Rodrigo Duterte]," the CPP said.

THE Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) claimed several accomplishments during its 10th Founding Anniversary celebration held at the Naval Station Felix Apolinario in Panacan, Davao City on Friday, August 26.

Eastmincom commander Lieutenant General Rey Leonardo Guerrero said there were already 115 barangays cleared from the influence of the New People’s Army (NPA), paving the way for the declaration of the five provinces and one city in its area of responsibilities (AOR) as conflict-manageable and development ready areas (CMDRAs).

Guerrero said this was made possible through the effective convergence of the local government units (LGUs), local government agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations (CSOs), security sectors, and other stakeholders.

He also reported the number of the NPA rebels was reduced by 115, while the number of the NPA firearms has been reduced by 177. He said this reduction in the NPA's armed capability has been the result of the effective barangay immersions by the Army's peace and development teams supported by the local communities.

Guerrero said as a result of their barangay immersions, there were 5,199 NPA sympathizers surfaced to renounce the armed struggle. He added that many of them are now enrolled in the livelihood programs being implemented by the LGUs.

"The command has not only been involved in internal security operations, it has also been active in territorial defense operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, international defense security engagements, and even in support to law enforcement operations," Guerrero said.

He said through the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao, the command was able to conduct 287 various naval operations, logging a total of 3,266 hours steaming time along the 16,667 nautical-mile stretch of maritime area of responsibility, while the Tactical Operations Group (TOG) 10 and 11 conducted 1,566 air operations, including maritime air patrols.

"The security of our maritime borders was also the focus of our international defense security engagements. On June this year, the command participated in a coordinated maritime patrol with the Indonesian navy as part of an existing border crossing agreement," Guererro said.

Guerrero added that the command has also deployed personnel of the TOG 11 and the Army’s 10th Infantry Division to put-off the fire that hit Mt. Apo, in terms of the disaster operation. He said a total of 90 helicopter sorties had been performed to survey and drop water and ice over the affected areas.

He said support to law enforcement operations was also given emphasis with President Rodrigo Duterte's directive to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to join the Philippine National Police (PNP) in its fight against illegal-drugs and criminality.

"With these accomplishments, I give recognition to all the units under the operational command and control of the Eastmincom for pursuing the accomplishment of our mission. I thanked our partners and the stakeholders, especially the local chief executives, for supporting our peace and development efforts in the barangays," Guerrero said.

Guererro said the celebration marks not only a significant milestone in its existence, but also highlights the strong and lasting partnership that the Eastmincom has been able to establish with its stakeholders over the years.

From the often pro-CPP online publication the Davao Today (Aug 27): NPA releases another 4 prisoners in Surigao

Members of the New People’s Army sing the Internationale during the ceremony for the release of its two prisoners in Lupon, Davao Oriental on Friday, August 26. The NPA released another four prisoners in Surigao del Norte on Saturday, August 27 as a goodwill gesture for the resumption of the formal peace negotiations. (Earl O. Condeza/davaotoday.com)

The New People’s Army released another batch of prisoners of war in a village somewhere in Surigao del Norte province on Saturday, August 27 bringing to seven the total number of prisoners released by the rebel group coinciding with the successful first round of talks between the government and the National Democratic Front.

The release of prisoners Police Officers 2 Caleb Sinaca, PO3 Jayroll Bagayas and non-uniformed personnel Rodrigo Angob of the Malimono Municipal Police Station and SPO3 Santiago Lamanilao of the Surigao City Police Office in Surigao del Norte came after 32 days in captivity.

The four police officers were arrested on July 24 in Barangay Cagtinae in Malimono by guerrilla fighters of the NPA’s Front 16.

The release of the prisoners was facilitated by Surigao del Norte Vice Governor Arturo Carlos Egay, Jr, Surigao City Vice Mayor Alfonso Casurra, church leaders of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines and the Exodus for Justice and Peace who acted as third party facilitators.

During a press conference after the release of the prisoners, Ka Oto, an NPA leader, said the investigation on the alleged involvement of the police officials in drug trade has been haltedafter the NDF gave an order to release the prisoners on August 16 as a goodwill measure for the ongoing peace negotiations.

He said that they urge the PNP to conduct its own probe on the police officers.

Treated well
SPO3 Lamanilao delivered a message during the ceremonies and said that he is thankful to the custodial unit of the NPAs who treated them well during their captivity.

“Tinuod giatiman nila kami sa among panglawas ug sa among pagkaon kay hugot man nilang gisubay ang balaod sa gyera, kanang giingon nga protocols of war (It is true that they treated us well, they monitored our health and gave us food because they strictly follow the protocols of war),” Lamanilao said.

Seven prisonersThe NPA also released on Friday, three prisoners of war, including Richard Vaz Yu of the PNP in Carmen town, Surigao del Sur who was arrested in Barangay San Vicente by a team of the NPA Front 30 on July 5, 2016. The other two prisoners released were police officers from Davao Oriental province, Police Chief Inspector Arnold Ongachen of the Governor Generoso Municipal Police Station and PO1 Michael Grande of Banaybanay Municipal Police Station.

In an emailed statement on August 16, Ka Maria Malaya, spokesperson of the National Democratic Front Northeastern Mindanao, said “they were arrested for their involvement in illegal drugs and illegal gambling in Malimono and Surigao City.”

Sinaca was accused as a protector of illegal drug trade and the illegal logging trade in the same town. Malaya said he is also known for his extortion activities of small-scale miners and has threatened and harassed peasants those who were working for his father, Dario Sinaca.

The arrest, according to NPA, was conducted as part of its own anti-drug campaign.
“The NDFP-NEMR has done a preliminary investigation of the five POW and will turn over the results of the NPA’s investigation to the third party facilitator and the PNP through its Chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa in the hope that it will assist them in their own investigation,” Malaya said.

Moreover, the NDF has ordered the suspension of all offensive operations of the New People’s Army in Surigao del Sur and Surigao del Norte until August 31, 2016 in time for the release of five prisoners of war held in custody of the NPAs.

But with closing of the five-day peace talks on Friday, August 26, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the NDFP said it shall declare and issue an indefinite unilateral ceasefire order to the NPA and the people’s militia, upon the end of their current ceasefire order in response to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s unilateral ceasefire effective indefinitely from August 21.

The first round of the formal talks in concluded with a signing of the “Joint Statement on the Resumption of the Formal Peace Talks in the Peace Negotiations”.

Senator Manny Pacquiao delivers a message during the release of two police officials who were held captive by the New People’s Army. (Earl O. Condeza/davaotoday.com)

Police Chief Inspector Arnold Ongachen, chief of police of the Governor Generoso Municipal Police Station in Davao Oriental says he was treated well by the NPAs. PCI Ongachen was released by the NPAs on Friday, August 26, 2016 in Lupon, Davao Oriental. (Earl O. Condeza/davaotoday.com)

Senator Manny Pacquiao with church leaders from the Exodus for Justice and Peace wait as a member of the New People’s Army prepare the release orders of its two prisoners. (Earl O. Condeza/davaotoday.com)

Wearing orange shirts printed with the word POW Prisoners of War, the police officers from Davao Oriental, Police Chief Inspector Arnold Ongachen, chief of the Governor Generoso Police Station and PO1 Michael Grande of Banaybanay Police Station were also welcomed by their families.

Ongachen was captured by the NPAs during its attack on the municipal police station in Governor Generoso on May 29, 2016.

The communist group has identified the municipality of Governor Generoso as a “gateway of illegal drug trade in the province.” It also claimed that the attack was meant to punish the protectors of rampant drug trafficking in the area.

The NPA said it found a sachet of shabu in the possession of Ongachen.

In a video released by the NPA on August 22, Ongachen publicly apologized for “keeping” a sachet of shabu after a test buy operation conducted by law enforcement officers. But Ongachen said he is not a drug user, nor he is a protector of the illegal trade.

Ongachen told reporters that he is aware of the problems of illegal drugs in the municipality. He said he was assigned to Governor Generoso on August 25, 2015.

Meanwhile, Grande was captured by the NPAs on June 19 in Bagumbayan, Lupon, Dava Oriental. The NPA said he was captured due to reports that “he regularly received payoffs from illegal gambling in the area.”

“As a member of the reactionary police force, POW Grande has admitted to have mauled, harassed and intimidated at gunpoint several civilians in Banay-banay.

Furthermore, along with the whole of the PNP in Banay-banay, he regularly received payoffs from illegal gambling in the area,” Rigoberto Sanchez, spokesperson of the NPA in Southern Mindanao said in a statement.

In a video also released by the NPA’s on August 18, Grande apologized for the violation he has committed.

On August 19, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines ordered the release of the two prisoners of war as a goodwill gesture for the formal talks between the NDF and the government.

Armed jihadists stormed a provincial jail late Friday and
freed 8 local terrorists, including three women, who were recently captured
transporting explosives in Lanao del Sur in the Muslim autonomous region in
southern Philippines.

The raiders, believed to be members of the Khilafah Islamiya
Movement, fled in several vehicles after the daring attack on the jail in MarawiCity.
One informant said as many as 7 vehicles with heavily-armed men stormed the
jail and disarmed the guards.

More than a dozen other prisoners took advantage of the
attack and also bolted jail near an army base. Jail officials were not
immediate available to shed light on the escape of the prisoners.

Security forces captured the terrorists who are members of a
jihadist group operating in Lanao del Sur tagged as behind the series of
terrorism. Officials said army soldiers and policemen intercepted the group
while transporting explosives in a van in the village of Nanagun
in Lumbayanague town.

Troops seized from them two pipe bombs, two fragmentation
grenades, one improvised explosive assembled from an 81mm mortar, two
.45-caliber pistols and electronic triggering devices.

Officials said those arrested also gave out different names
to mislead authorities, but army and police interrogators later found out that
all those intercepted are members and relatives of Abdullah Maute, who founded
the Dawlah Islamiya or “Islamic State” in southern Philippines.

Interrogation reports revealed the gang was plotting to bomb
civilian targets in the volatile region, according to the military’s Western
Mindanao Command.

Just recently, security forces killed 3 members of another
jihadist group called Ansar Al-Khilafah Philippines (AKP) in Daliao
village in nearby Sarangani’s Maasim town and troops recovered improvised
explosives from the slain militants. Both the AKP and Maute group pledged
allegiance with the Islamic State or Iraq
and Syria
and pledged to support each other in fighting the Philippine government.